Homeland: Season 2 Blu-Ray Review, Sort Of

Homeland: Season Three debuts on September 29, and Showtime was kind enough to send me a copy of the second season to watch and review. Considering the first season was one of the best 12 hours of television back in 2011, I did what was only natural: I put off watching the second season until half a day before the review deadline. Why?

Because I can. That’s right, because I can.

I’m only two episodes into the season, which hardly makes this review a full analysis of the season, but that’s what I get for being a year behind and too cheap to subscribe to both Showtime and HBO (sorry, Showtime!).

The second season premiere of Homeland is terrific, picking up where the last season left off while laying the groundwork for what’s to come. As any good premiere should do, I suppose. Still, the show doesn’t waste episodes explaining how Carrie gets reintroduced to the CIA after she had an absolute meltdown last season, or how Brody’s character is going to progress now that he has given up on the boom-boom.

But will Carrie and Brody hook up again? Only time will tell…

So far, the second season is much more overt than anything in the prior year; nuance and subtle tension has been replaced by real, in-the-moment threats and even a gunfight in which Carrie is on the receiving end – without a gun. Some may find this a betrayal of what made Homeland so great, but it’s a natural progression to the story, themes and arc of Homeland.

Two episodes in, it’s hard to fully review Homeland: Season 2, but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far. The bonus features appear to be run-of-the-mill, with a previous of season three (shocking!), a couple making-of documentaries and deleted scenes.

Now should I get Showtime to stay up-to-date on the show… Possibly. I’m still two seasons behind on Dexter. Damn.